Adhesive fabric and method of making the same



May 23, 1944. H. A vA'Ns 2,349,709

ADHESIVE FABRIC AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME F1144 Aug. 12, 1941 5Smets-sheet 1 Trl * j Inventor Haro1d-EUdns May 23, 1944. HL A. EvANs2,349,709

I DHESIVE,FABRIG AND METHOD OF yMAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. l2, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 2* Izzi/er1 for Hdroldv. Evdtzs Vtloeq May 23, 1944- H.-A.EVANS 2,349,709

ADHESIVE FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Alig. 12, 1941 5SheelZS-SheerI 5 In tren taf HdfojdvEvans *Bq TZWW. a. JLU

' 4t orne? May 23, 1944. H. A. EVANS ADHESIVE FABRIC AND METHOD OFMAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 12, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 4 y .Ia-1:11 tof-`Efnrar'oil/:il Evans 1911 772m,

May 23, 1944- H. A. EVANS 2,349,709

ADHESIVE FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Filed Aug. l2.4 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Hdzod 4. Evan s A Bq m0a. LA

, 'dt orner;

, Patented May 2s, 1944 ADHESIVE FABRIC AND METHOD F MAKING THE SAMEHarold A. Evans, Fairhaven, Mass., assignor to Coreve Corporation,Fairhaven, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August'l,1941, Serial No. 406,519

9 Claims. (Cl. 117-44) l My invention relates to improvementsv inadhesive coated fabrics and methods of their manufacture. v

While I am aware that others have attempted to coat woven fabrics with alayer of adhesive either as a continuous sheet or in'intermittent areasthroughout the length of said fabric, such as transversely spacedstripes or longitudinally spaced dots or areas, so far as I am aware noY `one has hitherto produced a vfabric coated with an adhesive layer inwhich the adhesive layer is not only applied as a single layer coveringa portion of the surface of the fabric, but also isl applied as a layerof adhesive partially .permeating said fabric forming a layer ofadhesive underneath at least some of the threads thereof integral withsaid surface coated layer. I believe I am the first, therefore, toprovied an adhesive fabric comprising a sheet of fabric having warp andweft threads and a single, preferably continuous layer of adhesivecovering said fabric, portions of said layer of adhesive at leastpartially permeating said fabric to underlie at least some `of saidthreads to positively lock said layer of adhesive thereto, whether saidsingle layer of adhesive be applied to the fabric in sheet formation,`in transversely' spaced stripe formation, or in longitudinally spacedarea formation. I am therefore able to provide an adhesive coveredfabric i n which the adhesive covering is so interlocked with the fibersthat it is extremely hard to remove it from said fabric'in use.

` A further feature of my invention relates to the method Ipreferablyemploy for making such a fabric, said method including,providing a resilient, preferably rotatable pad, passing a sheet offabric over said resilient pad and forcing a mass of liquid adhesiveagainst said sheet of fabric and rotatable resilient pad undersubstantial gravity and fluid pressure to force a layer of said liquidadhesive within said fabric sheet underneath atleast some of the threadsthereo f and to form a layer of adhesive on the surface of said fabricsheet integral with said permeated layer, In accordance with mypreferred embodiment of my method, I preferably super-` impose over arotating pad'cylinder, a stationary fountain on said sheet of fabricpassing thereover under substantial gravity pressure to positivelyprovide a liquid adhesive dam and I continuously force a mass of liquidadhesive from said stationary fountain under substantial uid pressureinto said fabric and through passageway means, preferably ofprogressively decreaslayer of adhesive within the fabric as said sheetof fabric passes between the nip formed between said stationary fountainand rotating resilient pad. I believe I am the first, therefore, toprovide a dam by simulatingthe action of astamp on its cooperating pad,making the stamp function as a fountain to apply liquid adhesive throughsaid-fountain to the sheet of fabric passing underneath said fountainunder gaseous fluid pressure..

4These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appearwill .be best under-'\ stood from a description of the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate improved types of adhesive fabric constructedin. accordance with my invention and illustrate diagrammatic steps inthe vmanufacture thereof.

Figs.l 1-7 illustrate an air-pervous surgical tape comprising non-biascut woven fabric coated and permeated with spaced stripes by myimproved. method andhaving the edges thereof pretreated againstunraveling, Fig. 1 being a perspective view illustrating a roll of suchsurgical tape and showing a portion of the inner surface thereof; Fig.gc being a perspective view of a roll of such surgii cal tape andshowing a portion of the outer Asurface thereof; Fig'. 3 being adiagrammatic sec-- tional view showing the tape pretreated with mymethod to provide latex stripes to prevent the edges from unravelingafter a sheet of substantial width is cut to the desired tape widthsshown;

Fig. 4 being a sectional view similar tol Fig. 3 but showing the actualthreads so permeated with said stripes of latex; Fig. 5 being asectional tape; and Fig. 7 being a diagrammatic View of an embodiment ofcompleted tape showing the ladhesive stripes on the surface thereof andstripes integral therewith Acomplet-ely permeated through the tapefabric.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating the steps inmy method of making the adhesive fabric shown in Figs. 1-7 to providethe spaced longitudinal stripes of latex.v shown therein. y v

F18. 9 is a face view of the fabric after vthe latex stripes have beenformed therein in accordance with my method. v

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevational view ing height toadditionally compact and force the illustrating the-steps in my improvedmethod of stripes into the desired widths for adhesive or.

surgical tape.

Fig. 13 is a face view cf the fabric so cut along said latex stripes toprovide a narrow surgical tape having edges incapable of unraveling.

Figs. 1d-19 illustrate an air-pervious surgical tape comprising non-biascut woven fabric coated and permeated with spaced stripes of adhesive bymy improved method, Fig. 14 beings. perspective view illustrating a rollof such surgical tape and showing a portion of the inner surfacethereof; Fig. 15 being a perspective view of a roll of such surgicaltape and showing a portion of the outer surface thereof; Fig. 16 being adiagrammatic sectional view of an embodiment of surgical tape' meatedwith the adhesive stripes.

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating the stepsin my improved method for making the adhesive fabric shown in Figs.14-19, with the gravity and fluid pressure so regulated as t9 providethe stripes only partially permeating the fabric, as shown in Figs. 16and 17.

Fig. 21 is a face view of a small portion of such a fabric. 1

Fig. 22 is a detailed cross-sectional view thereof.

Fig. 23 is a diagrammaticside elevational view illustrating the steps inmy improved method for making the adhesive fabric shown in Figs. 14-19,with the gravity and fluid pressure so regulated as to provide thestripes completely permeating the fabric, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

Fig. 24 is a face view of a small portion of such a fabric.

Fig. 25 is a detailed cross-sectional view thereof.

Figs.2630 illustrate a commercial tape comprising non-bias cut wovenfabric coated and permeated with an adhesive sheet in 'accordance withmy improved method, Fig. 26 being a perspective view illustrating a rollof such commercial tape'and showing a portion of the inner surembodimentof completed tape showing an adhesive sheet on the surface thereof andan ad' hesive sheet integral therewith completely permeating the fabric;and Fig. 30 being a sectional view similar to Fig. .29 but showing theactual f threads so permeated with the adhesive sheet.

Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating the stepsin the method of making the embodiment of adhesive fabric shown in Figs.26-,30.

dit

aeea'zoc Fig. 32 is a face view of such a fabric.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicatelike parts throughout, t@ generally indicates an adhesive fabricconstructed in accordance with my invention. Said fabric includes asheet of fabric 62 having warp threads M and weft or filling threads de,and a continuous preferably single layer of adhesive t8 at leastpartially permeating said fabric forming a layer of adhesive Eilunderneath at least some of the threads and a layer of adhesive 52 onthe surface of said fabric integral with said permeated layer et. Ifdesired, said permeated layer t@ may partially permeate said fabricforming a layer of adhesive underneath at least some of the threads, asshown in Figs. 16 and 17, or it It is immaterial whether said singlelayer t8 oi adhesive be applied as a continuous layer extendinglongitudinally of the fabric, or' as an intermittent layer comprisinglongitudinally spaced areas of adhesive on the face of the fabric. Ifdesired, said layer may comprise the spaced stripes of adhesive i3dcomprising said singlelayer covering said fabric, portions .5B of saidspaced stripes of adhesive at least partially penneating.

said fabric .to underlie at least some of said threads to positivelylock said spaced stripes tt of adhesive, including the covering portions52 thereof to the fabric t2. If desired, however, as in the embodimentshown in. Figs. 26-30, said layer t8 may comprise a continuous sheet 433completely covering said fabric having a portion 5f' covering saidfabric and a portion of the same sheet 5t' at least partially permeatingsaid fabric @i2 to underlie at least some of the threads it and t6thereof to positively lock said integral sheet 4381 of adhesiveincluding the portion 52 'thereof exposed on the surface thereofthereto.

Great diculty has been experienced in the prior art in providing anadhesive fabric in which the covered layer of vadhesive will not tearoff if it is not permeatably locked to the fabric. It is obvious thatwith my invention employing at least portions 5@ of said layer ofadhesive t8 at least partially permeating said fabric t2 to underlie atleast some of said threads it and t6, -they will so positively lock saidadhesive layer 4B to the sheet of fabric d2 that it will not pulltherefrom in use.

So far as I am aware, such `a type of adhesive fabric 40 or til' havingthe adhesive layer 4B or 48' positively interlocked therewith in themanner vhitherto described can only be made in accordance with myimproved method. Broadly speaking, my improved method comprises themethod of making adhesive fabric flu or 40' which comprises continuouslypassing a sheet of fabric At2 over a resilient pad 5t and forcingpreferably continuously a mass of liquid adhesive 56 against said sheetof fabric d2 under substantial gravity and fluid pressure to force atleast a por# tion 50 or 56 of the layer et or lia of said liquidadhesive within. said fabric sheet i2 underneath at least some of thethreads 4t land de thereof surface of said fabric'sheet integral withsaid permeated layer 58 or 58', it being immaterial whether said layer48 or 48' is permeatedA within and covers said fabric asia'single layerin the form of a continuous sheet 48' or in the form of continuouslytransversely spaced longitudinal stripes to provide the stripes 48, orwhether said continuous sheet or continuous stripes are broken to form4intermittent longitudinally and/or transversely spaced areas of saidpermeated adhesive.

I thus pass a continuous sheet 58 of fabric 42 from a suitable source ofsupply, such'as the roll 60 over a pad cylinder 54 having a resilientouter surface suitably driven in any suitable' manner, as by the motor52. I then' superimpose a relatively stationary fountain 84 on saidsheet of fabric 58 passing over said rotating pad cylinder 54 undersubstantial gravity pressure, which may be conveniently provided bypivoting the fountain 64cm a pivot rod extending transversely of thecylinder above the fabric so that the weight of the fountain will bearagainst the continuous sheet of fabric 58 passing overthe surface of thelresilient pad 54. If desired, the sheet of fabric 58 may be suitablebraked in any suitable manner, such as bythe counter weight 65 mountedon a strap 61 passing over the roll 88 to retain it in a taut conditionuntil it passes between the nip 68 formed between the fountain l54 andsaid resilient pad cylinder' 54.-l After the continuous sheet of fabricr.lis has passed through the nip 88, it may then be taken up in anysuitable manner, such as on the reel 18, suitably rotated in anysuitable manner, such as by the motor 52 to draw said continuous sheetof fabric in a taut4 condition from the nip 88 to said reel 18. Asuitably variable counter weight 12 may be added to the fountainl 54 toincrease the gravity pressure of the fountain against the sheet 58passing thereunder and the pad cylinder 54 so that the fountain 84 mayfunction as a hollow stamp so firmly impressed against the fabric andthe resilient surface of the pad cylinder that no 'leakage around theedges of the hollow stamp is possible. I then force a mass of liquidadhesive 56 through said stationary fountain 44 under substantial fluidpressure as' a single layervinto said sheet of fabric 58 passingthereunder, and. I preferably simultaneously leave a portion 52 of saidsingle llayer on the surface of said fabric by providing passagewaymeans 14 on the lower surface of said fountain 84 behind the points atwhich the adhesive is forced into said fabric 58. to provide.

passageway means 14 between the. rear portionof y 48' of adhesive on thefabric the passageway shown) within the fountain 6-4. While I have showna suitable apparatus capable of carrying l out my method, it is obviousthat my improved method may be accomplished manually or in any othersuitable type of apparatus. It is obvious that the gravity pressure aidsin compacting the layer 48 of adhesive and forcing the portion 50thereof within the fabric, but that this permeation of the layer 48within 4said fabric as at 58 is l largely accomplished by theapplication of the l fluid 4pressure and by the compacting of the layer52 on the surface of the fabric 58 caused by the decreasing size of thepassageway means 14. It is obvious, however, that substantial permeationor penetration of the fabric will take place if the size of thepassageway means 14 is not varied throughout its length. It is obviousthat the fluid pressure must be so regulated as to be not greater thanthe gravitypressure causing the fountain 54 to bear against the padcylinder 54 so as to cause a bleeding or leakage of liquid adhesivearound the edges of said fountain or a complete blowout of liquidadhesive at this point. If it be desired to provide spaced stripes I 48of adhesive on the fabric the passageway means may comprise a pluralityof spaced channels or grooves 1,4 as shown in Figs. 8, 10, 20, and 23.If it be desired to provide a continuous sheet means may comprisecontinuous transverse slot 14 as shown in Fig. 3l.

Any suitable type of adhesive ployed, which adhesive may be applied hotor in solution, preferably in solution to provide when affixed apressure sensitive' adhesive. I have shown in Figs. 1-7 an air-pervioussurgical tape 92 comprising non-bias cut woven fabric coated with thespaced stripes 52 and permeated with the spaced stripes integraltherewith to make up the integral composite stripes 48, cut intosuitable Widths for surgical tape, as shown in the fountain 84 and thepad cylinder I4 under1- neath it to force a layer 58 of liquidadhesivewithin vsaid fabric sheet and'underneath at least some of the threadsthereof and simultaneously a layer 52 of adhesive on the surface ofVsaid fabric sheet integral with said permeated layer 50.

In order that th? portion I8 of said layer may be impregnated withinsaidfabric and the surface portion 52 thereof compactly laid on said fabricsheet 58, said passageway means 14 is preferably provided ofVprogressively decreasing height', as at.' 16, for this purpose. I Anysuitable means maybe provided to force the liquid adhesive I8 underadjustably variable substantial fluid pressure from the fountain 64,.such as the source of fluid pres'- sure 18 comprising the'compresser 18actuated 'by r the pump 88. forcing compressed air within theliquidadhesive container 82 to force it through the pipe 84 to within asuitable reservoir (not 75 Figs. 12 and 13, and having the edges 86there-` of pretreated against nnraveling. This may be.

done by treating the sheet of fabric 58 with two separate applicationsof my improved method. in the first instance applying the wide stripes88 of normal latex in liquid form thereto in accordance with mymethod,as shown in Fig. 8.

The fabric 58 may then be treated a second time in accordance with mymethod in the manner shown in Fig. 10 to affix the narrow stripes ofadhesive 48A to the fabric, including the exposed portions 52 thereof,and the portions 50 thereof permeated at least partially through saidfabric, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 being partially permeatedtherethrough, and in the embodiment shown in Fig. '7 said portions 58being substantially totally permeated through the fabric 42. It is thusobvious that I lhave .pro-

`vided a novel type of non-bias cut surgical tape,

having longitudinally extending warp threads 44 i and the transverseweft or filling threads 45 'with the latex stripes 88 impregnated withinthe fabric. The fabric is then out lthrough the latex stripes 88, suchas by the knives 88 diagrammatically illustrated by Fig. 12 to provideareas 8l impregnated with latex adjacent the edges 5 of the fabriccovering the exposed ends of the filling threads 48 and the warp threads44 adjacent said edges to prevent them from unravelling, and at the sametime longitudinally splitting. said fabric 58 into the desired widths ofmay be emsensitive esive employed in the embodent shown in Figs. 1-7 isalso employed in stripe formation es, preferably with the Coates stripessr and the permeated stripes 5c integral therewithai- 5 If desired, myimproved method may be employed with fabric cut on the bias to provide acom' formable and stretchable fabric in the manner shown and describedin my col-pending application for patent for Adhesive fabric and methodof manufacturing same: Ser. No. 406,888, led August 1d, 1941. In theembodiment shown :in Figs. 16 and 1'?, the stripes ed are only permeatedpart way through the fabric, vwhereas in the embodiment shown in Figs.18 and 19 the stripes 5c are permeated all the way through.

I have shown in Figs. 26-30 my invention appiled to a so-calledcommercial or masking tape Q2'. As shown in Fig. 31, the fabric has beentreated identically as shown in Figs. and 23, only thepassagewaymeanslt" is so shaped as to apply the adhesive in sheetformation du with a single coat providing the sheet 5d' partiallypermeating the fabric, and the sheet 52' integral' therewith coveringthe fabric. This type of fabric may be employed in any place where socalled commercial or masking tape is employed, either for true maskingin painting or spraying, or as a binder, reinforcement, or otherwise.`In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 27 and 28, the sheet5u' is permeated partially through the fabric, whereas in the embodimentof my invention shown in Figs.v 29 and 30, the sheet 5u is permeatedsubstantially through the fabric.

It is apparent, therefore, that I have provided a novel type of adhesivefabric in which the affixed adhesive will positively not tear away fromthe fabric base thereof in use, with the other advantages explainedabove, and the improved method of -its manufacture.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specicembodiments shown or meth-' ods descri and that various deviations maybe made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What 1 claim is:

l. In the method of coating fabric between a adhesive feeding means, andforcing liquid adhesive through saidv adhesive feeding means undersufficient pressure to force a layer of said liquid adhesive within saidfabric sheet and undemeath at least some of the threads thereof and toform s layer of adhesive on the surface of said fabric sheet integralwith said permeated ayer. i 2. In the method of coating fabric between amoving resilient surface andv a stationary fountain having adhesivefeeding means, the steps which comprise forcing said fountain againstsaid resilient surface to provide a traction nip for feeding said fabricbetweenv said surface and fountain and to provide a. dam exterior ofsaid adhesive feeding means, and continuously forcing liquid adhesivethrough said adhesive feeding means under sufficient pressure tof,`force a.v continuous layer of said liquid adhesivewithin said fabricsheet and underneath at least some of the 76 adhesive covering saidfabric, portions of said i threads thereof and to form a continuouslayer 7d aseavoa of adhesive on the surface of said fabric sheetintegral with said permeated continuous layer.

3. In the method of coating fabric between a moving resilient surfaceand a vstationary fountain having adhesive feeding means comprisingslots, the steps which comprise forcing said fountain against saidresilient surface to provide a traction nip for feeding said fabricbetween said surface and fountain and to provide a dam exterior .of saidadhesive feeding means, and continuously forcing liquid adhesive throughsaid ad:- hesive feeding means comprising slots under sufficientpressure to force continuous stripes of said liquid adhesive within saidfabric sheet and un-1 derneath at least some of the threads thereof andto form continuous stripes of adhesive on the surface of said fabricsheet integral with said permeated continuous stripes. A

.4. In the method of coating fabric between a. moving resilient surfaceand a stationary fountain having adhesive feeding means, the steps whichcomprise forcing said fountain against said resilient surface to providea traction nip for feeding said fabric between said surface and fountainand to provide a dam exterior of said adhesive feeding means, andintermittently forcing liquid adhesive through said adhesive feedingmeans under sufficient pressure to force spaced areas of said liquidadhesive within said fabric sheet and underneath atleast some of thethreads thereof and to form spaced areas of adhesive on the surface ofsaid fabric sheet integral with said permeated spaced areas.

5. Adhesive fabric comprising a sheet of fabric having warp and weftthreads and a continuous single layer of adhesive covering said fabric,`portions of said layer of adhesive partially permeating said fabric tounderlie some of said threads to positively lock said layer of adhesivethereto produced substantially in accordance with the method claimed inclaim 2.

6. Adhesive fabric comprising a sheet of fabric having warp and weftthreads and a continuous sheet of adhesive covering said fabric,portions of said sheet of adhesive partially permeating said fabric tounderlie some of said threads to positively lock said sheet of adhesivethereto produced substantially in accordance with the method claimed inclaim 2.

7. Adhesive fabric comprising a sheet of fabric having warp and weftthreads and continuous spaced stripes of adhesive comprising singlelayers covering said fabric, portions of said spaced stripes of adhesivepartially permeating said fabric to underlie some of said threads topositively lock said spaced stripes of adhesive thereto uro-` ducedsubstantially in accordance with the methnr od claimed in claim 3. l v

8; VAdhesive fabric comprising a sheet of fab= ric having warp. and weftthreads and spnceds areas of adhesive covering said fabric',portions ofsaid spaced areas of adhesive partially' permeating said fabric tounderlie some of said threads to positively lock said spacedareas ofadhesive thereto produced substantially in accordance with the methodclaimed inclaim. 4.

9. Adhesive fabric comprising a sheet of fabric having warp and weftthreads and areas of areas of adhesive partially permeating said fabricto underlie some of said threads to positively lock said areas ofadhesive thereto produced substantially in-accordance with the methodclaimed in claim l.

' HAROLD.v A. EVANS.

